THE IRON MAJOR
US, 1943, 85 minutes, Black and white.
Pat O'Brien, Ruth Warrick, Robert Ryan, Leon Ames.
Directed by Ray Enright.
The Iron Major is a piece of wartime entertainment and propaganda. It focuses on celebrated football coach Frank Cavanaugh and his heroism during World War One. It is a tribute to him and presents him as a hero for soldiers involved in World War Two.
Pat O'Brien is comfortably at home in the central role as Frank Cavanaugh. Robert Ryan, in an early role, appears as Father Timothy Donovan. Leon Ames appears as Cavanaugh's friend Bob. The film is small budget, takes us through coaching days and football times at the turn of the century, re-creates aspects of World War One .
1. Interesting and enjoyable American drama? Tribute to Frank Cavanaugh?
2. Budget, black and white photography, re-creation of the period, the football games, the war sequences? Musical score?
3. The title and the tribute to Frank Cavanaugh? As a tough player, coach, military man?
4. Cavanaugh, poor background, relationship with the portrait of his family, school, friends, playing football? College and his stances? His gift of speaking? Legal studies? The court case, the judge? The possibility of going to prison? His taking stances? His friendship with Bob over the years? The meeting with Florence, courting her, marriage? Raising the offer to be football coach? Decisions, taking the job? His style as coach, the decisions about the teams? The number of colleges he coached at? The Catholic background? Friendship with Father Tim? World War One, enlisting, his activity, -heroism, injuries, iron major? His subsequent history, his death and the tribute?
5. The portrait of Florence, her family love for Frank, standing by him, the decisions about the coaching, the law?
6. Bob and his friendship, the interaction over the years? Support? Father Tim, friendship, the questions of the war?
7. American law? Court, cases? Judges? Prison sentences?
8. American football, its traditions, players, coaches?
9. World War One, American involvement, heroism? The stage for World War Two?
